Rep. Jefferson (D-LA)'s bribery makes the MSM
By Adam C2 Posted in Democrats — Comments (13) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Since reading Sen. Coburn's book "Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders into Insiders," two opinions of mine have been solidified. First, Sen. Coburn was the right choice for Oklahoma in 2004. Second, corruption is never going away but we have to fight it wherever we see it. Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) has already stepped down this year. Now it's time for Congressman Jefferson (D-LA) to do the same.
Then came the allegations last August that Jefferson had orchestrated a corruption scheme. Federal investigators are targeting the Democratic congressman, 58, for allegedly demanding cash and other favors for himself and relatives, in exchange for using his congressional clout to arrange African business deals. A former aide recently pleaded guilty to bribing Jefferson and is cooperating with authorities, and sources familiar with the case say a plea agreement with the lawmaker is being explored. Jefferson's world is toppling.
Update [2006-2-16 1:23:30 by Adam C]: As mbecker908 mentioned below, Rep. Jefferson also used the National Guard "troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops"
The evidence is pretty solid:
The investigation became public on Aug. 3 when FBI agents raided Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Northeast Washington, where they found about $90,000 in cash in his freezer, law enforcement sources have said. They also raided five other locations, including the Kentucky and New Jersey offices of iGate Inc., a high-tech firm that has become central to the investigation, along with a house in Potomac owned by Atiku Abubakar, the vice president of Nigeria....
Later, in a phone conversation, Jefferson told Pfeffer that he wanted a family member to be put on the payroll of the Nigerian company and to receive about $2,500 to $5,000 in monthly payments, court documents said.
"Pfeffer understood that [Jefferson] was soliciting a bribe in exchange" for the congressman's assistance in "official acts," including influencing high-ranking officials in the Nigerian government via trips and correspondences, and meeting with officials of the Export-Import Bank to help secure financing, the court document said.
It's not like corruption in Louisiana is a big surprise. But it's customary to quit while you are behind.
On a final note, check out the MSM balance:
Jefferson's investigation is another reminder that bribery and illegal activity are alive and well on all sides of the political aisle. Representative Cunningham (R-CA) and Jefferson's (D-LA) corrupt actions display the bipartisan nature of ethical issues.
Oh wait, that wasn't the Washington Post, this was:
The investigation of Jefferson and the recent guilty plea by a former aide give Republicans the chance to argue that corruption in Washington has a bipartisan tinge.
It's this subtle bias that still affects Washington reporting negatively.
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Rep. Jefferson (D-LA)'s bribery makes the MSM 13 Comments (0 topical, 13 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
From hearing the other things Rep. Jefferson has done, it wouldn't surprise me. But do you have any links or sources on that one, even to blogs?
but I knew it was there...
I hate to reuse a phrase from a Def Comedy Jam performer, but the MSM doesn't care about black people.
They only care when they get caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Between the Republican and Democrat responses to House members getting into trouble with the Feds is that Republicans get rid of their corrupt members, and the Democrats celebrate theirs. Let's see if this changes, but I'm not holding my breath.
Redstate saying bad things about a black congressman (doesn't matter if they're true), and right in the middle of Black History Month! Stoller was right!
was just trying to move up the Democratic leadership?
I just wonder, what was in his flooded house that he had to IMMEDIATELY go and take out box after box of "personal items". If I remember right, I believe Jefferson responded to the flak of using National Guard troops, as saying he was just "checking on" his property.
It was clear he was not retrieving jewelry or family pictures, etc.
Jefferson's house wasn't flooded. It's one of the old raised cottage style homes in the Garden District with probably 5 feet of freeboard between the ground and his first floor. The problem was all of the streets leading to his house had several feet of water in them and without the big National Guard transport trucks he'd have never made it there.
Jefferson's goose is cooked whether he goes down on the corruption charge or not. I can't believe that with the changed demographics of the Chocolate City and these charges that he'll get elected. Even in the event he somehow manages to, after 2010 his district will be combined with Bobby Jindal's district which is very conservative and considerable more populous than what the reminants of Jefferson's district.
Either way, he's toast sooner or later.
The investigation became public on Aug. 3 when FBI agents raided Jefferson's homes in New Orleans and Northeast Washington, where they found about $90,000 in cash in his freezer, law enforcement sources have said.
He was already under investigation by the FBI, and since they had already raided his house, maybe he thought that is was safe to hide stuff there. Until Katrina came through, and he envisioned salvage workers or looters finding stuff he didn't want found.
Just speculation on my part.
The more interesting thing will be the reaction of the Democratic leadership.
I will be really interested to see if there is any further reporting of Rep Jefferson's taking a National Guard truck and several Guardsmen to help him clean boxes out of his home in New Orleans at the height of the flood hysteria.